Wheel of Fortune Contestant Wins $55,050 After Last-Second Bonus Round Answer Sparks Debate
A Close Game Ends With a Big Win
A dramatic episode of Wheel of Fortune ended with a major payday and a wave of debate among viewers after contestant Sarah LaPilusa won the bonus round in the final moments.
LaPilusa appeared on the Wednesday, February 27 episode against Air Force member Jimmy Holgerson and traveler Yolanda Tillet. The game stayed competitive throughout the regular rounds, with the lead remaining close before the final result was decided.
By the end of the standard puzzle rounds, LaPilusa had earned $15,050. Her total included a trip to Mexico, giving her enough to move ahead and reach the bonus round.
Tillet finished close behind with $13,500, while Holgerson ended the game in third place with $2,000.
The Bonus Round Puzzle
For the final round, LaPilusa chose “People” as her category. She then selected “M, B, H, and O” to go with the standard bonus round letters “R, S, T, L, N, and E.”
After the letters were revealed, the puzzle showed a two-word phrase:
_ _ S S _ B _ B _ E S
With only seconds available, LaPilusa began trying to solve the phrase out loud. Her first guess was “Jazzy babies,” which was not correct.
Almost immediately after that, she followed with the correct answer: “Fussy babies.”
Judges Review the Timing
The close timing of the answer quickly became the center of attention. Because the correct response came so near the end of the countdown, host Ryan Seacrest turned to the judges for a ruling.
After reviewing the moment, the judges decided that LaPilusa had given the correct answer in time.
That ruling awarded her the $40,000 bonus prize and raised her total winnings to $55,050.
Viewers Split Over the Decision
Many viewers praised LaPilusa for thinking quickly under pressure. Some described the solve as an exciting buzzer-beater and celebrated the way she talked through the puzzle before reaching the right phrase.
“That’s what I call a buzzer beater! Great job, Sarah!” one user commented.
Another viewer wrote, “PERFECT example of ‘talking it out.’ She said ‘jazzy babies’ which led her to ‘fussy babies’ right as time expired. AMAZINGLY well done.”
Others were not convinced. Some fans argued that the correct answer came after the buzzer and believed the prize should not have been awarded.
“That was 100% after the buzzer. It was so simply obvious,” one person wrote.
Another viewer added, “She was too late. They gave her that win.”
Ryan Seacrest Reacts to the Moment
Seacrest did not take a side in the debate over the ruling. Instead, he reacted to how close the moment was as the audience cheered.
“That was incredible! I’ve never seen anything so close!” he said.
The judges’ decision remained final, and LaPilusa left with the full prize amount.
A Win That Left Fans Talking
Whether viewers believed the answer came just in time or slightly too late, the result stood. LaPilusa’s final guess secured the bonus round and turned an already strong game into a $55,050 win.
The moment also gave Wheel of Fortune fans another dramatic game show ending to debate, with some celebrating the last-second solve and others questioning whether the timing was fair.